A Bit of the Best of Las Vegas

Every year, I look forward to the Las Vegas Review Journal’s “Best of Las Vegas” issue. For you out-of-towners, I will explain. The local newspaper puts out a huge ballot in the paper and on line. The ballot is big because they give out 312 rewards. The rewards amount to the mention in the paper and the right to advertise the “best of” logo forever, I guess. Some restaurants have plaques posted for several years.

The readers vote on their favorite places and so do the writers. If you’re really good, you will get both the writer’s and the reader’s votes. My taste tends to run more in line with the writers (hmmm, I guess I’m a writer as well). The readers are funny, like they vote the Olive Garden the best Italian restaurant in Vegas EVERY year and Red Lobster the best seafood restaurant EVERY year! No disrespect to these fine establishments, but, we have world class restaurants in LV and I hear that Mario Batali, for instance, has a KILLER restaurant here.

Oh, well, taste notwithstanding, I won’t bore you with a list of all the winners but address all of the most important, most interesting, and some of the weird ones. The reader’s vote will be the “R” category, of course, and the writers will be the “W.” If we’ve been there and love it, I’ll put some stars next to it. Enjoy, and let us know your opinion of the best in Las Vegas.

RESTAURANTS

Chinese Restaurant

R: PF Chang’s Multiple Locations

W: China Mama 3420 S Jones Blvd

Deli

R: Jason’s Deli Multiple Locations

W: Chef Marc’s Parma Pastavino & Deli 7591 W Washington

Diner/Coffee Shop

R: Blueberry Hill Multiple Locations

W: Peppermill 2985 Las Vegas Blvd South ***

French Restaurant

R: Marche Bacchus 2620 Regatta Dr

W: Marche Bacchus***

Gourmet Restaurant

R: Todd’s Unique Dining 4350 E Sunset Rd, HD

W: Todd’s Unique Dining (got to try this one!)

Indian Restaurant

R: Origin India 4480 Paradise Rd

W: Origin India***

Italian Restaurant

R: Olive Garden multiple locations

W: Gina’s Bistro 4226 Durango Dr.

Japanese Restaurant

R: Osaka multiple locations***

W: Raku 5030 Spring Mtn Rd

Mexican Restaurant

R: Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen multiple locations (been there but not a favorite)

W: Dona Maria 3205 Tenaya Way, 910 Las Vegas Blvd S, (been there years ago, didn’t like, but may try again)

Microbrewery: Gordon Biersch 3987 Paradise Rd, 750 S Rampart ***

Chicago Brewing Co. 2201 S Ft. Apache (been there years ago, didn’t like, but may try again)

Seafood Restaurant

R: Red Lobster multiple locations

W: Catfish Alley 3620 E. Flamingo

Steakhouse

R: Outback Steakhouse multiple locations

W: Golden Steer 308 W Sahara ***

Bar Food

R: Timber’s Bar and Grill multiple locations (I call it so so)

W: Steiner’s Pub multiple locations (I call it so so also)

Barbecue

R: Famous Dave’s multiple locations (so so)

W: TC’s Rib Crib 8740 W. Desert Inn (got to try)

Best Burger

R: IN-N-OUT Burger multiple locations ***

W: Charlies Down Under 1950 N Buffalo and Charlie’s Lakeside 8603 W Sahara***

Pizza

R: Metro Pizza multiple locations (got to try, comes highly recommended)

W: Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza 6569 Las Vegas Blvd. S (got to try this one too!)

Breakfast

R: The Cracked Egg multiple locations ***

W: Egg Works 9355 W Flamingo & 2490 E Sunset ***

Restaurant with a View

R: Panevino Ristorante 246 Via Antonio Ave ***

W: Ventano Italian Grill & Seafood 191 S Arroyo Grande Blvd ***

HOTELS and STUFF IN HOTELS

Downtown Hotel

R: Golden Nugget ***

W: Golden Nugget

Locals Hotel

R: M Resort ***

W: M Resort

Strip Hotel

R: Bellagio ***

W: Mandalay Bay***

All-Around Performer

R: Bette Midler ***

W: Cher (didn’t care for it)

Comedian

R: Carrot Top

W: Lily Tomlin

Magician

R: Lance Burton

W: David Copperfield

Attraction

R: Fountains of Bellagio ***

W: Adventuredome ***

Bargain Show

R: Mac King

W: American Superstars ***

Cocktail Waitresses

R: Rio ***

W: M Resort ***

Lounge

R: Fontana Lounge, Bellagio ***

W: Fontana Lounge, Bellagio

Show

R: Love ***

W: The Lion King

Spa

R: Qua Baths & Spa, Caesars Palace

W: Drift Spa, Palms

Bingo

R: South Point

W: Arizona Charlies

Blackjack

R: Sunset Station ***

W: El Cortez ***

Keno

R: Red Rock Resort ***

W: El Cortez ***

Best Paying Slots

R: Palms ***

W: South Point

Player’s Club

R: Station’s Casinos

W: South Point

Poker Room

R: Bellagio

W: The Venetian

Sports Book

R: Las Vegas Hilton ***

W: M Resort

Video Poker

R: Fiesta ***

W: South Point

Buffet

R: M Resort ***

W: M Resort

Gourmet Restaurant

R: Alex, Wynn

W: L’atelier de Joel Robuchon, MGM Grand

Italian

R: Pasta Palace, Palace Station ***

W: Trattoria Del Lupo, Mandalay

Mexican

R: Garduno’s Fiesta and Palms ***

W: Dos Caminos, Palazzo

Seafood Restaurant

R: Tides Oyster Bar, Green Valley Ranch

W: Seablue, MGM Grand

Shrimp Cocktail

R: Golden Gate ($1.99) ***

W: Railroad Pass ( $1.00)

Steakhouse

R: T-Bones Chop House, Red Rock Resort ***

W: N9ne Steakhouse, Palms (had bad luck there twice)